ARC Registration Guide: How to Get Your Alien Registration Card in Korea

What is an ARC (Alien Registration Card) and why do you need it?

Your first 90 days in Korea run on your passport. Once you have your Alien Registration Card (ARC, 외국인등록증), the practical parts of daily life unlock: bank account, SIM contract, National Health Insurance (국민건강보험, NHIS) enrollment, and official ID at most government offices, hospitals, and businesses.

Without an ARC, most banks will not open an account for you. SIM contracts, NHIS enrollment, and most government services all require it. The sooner you apply, the sooner you can settle in properly.

Who must register: Any foreigner who has been or intends to be in Korea for 91 consecutive days or more. This includes work visa holders (E-series), student visa holders (D-series), and long-stay family visa holders (F-series).

Deadline: Apply within 90 days of your date of entry. Do not leave it to the last week. Processing takes 2 to 3 weeks, and you want the card before day 90.

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What do you need before applying for an ARC?

Most ARC applications require the same core set: original passport, visa documentation, one passport-style photo, proof of a Korean address (lease, employer housing letter, or goshiwon receipt), and the ₩35,000 application fee. E-series work visa holders add an employer letter or contract; D-2 students add a 재학증명서 enrollment certificate from their school's international office. Bring originals plus one photocopy of each.

Documents required for most visa types:

Tip: Bring originals and one photocopy of everything. Immigration offices sometimes keep copies.

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How do you apply for an ARC, step by step?

Step 1, Find your immigration office

Go to the immigration office (출입국·외국인청) in the jurisdiction where you live. Major offices:

• Seoul: Seoul Immigration Office (서울출입국·외국인청) in Mok-dong, or satellite offices in various districts
• Incheon: Incheon Immigration Office near Bupyeong
• Busan: Busan Immigration Office in Choryang-dong
• Gyeonggi: Suwon, Ansan, or Uijeongbu offices depending on your area

Find your nearest office at www.immigration.go.kr → 사무소 안내 (Office guide).

Step 2, Book an appointment (recommended)

Walk-ins are accepted but wait times can be 2 to 3 hours. Book an appointment online at www.hikorea.go.kr or via the Hi Korea app. Appointments significantly reduce your wait time.

Step 3, Visit the office

Arrive at least 15 minutes before your appointment. Take a numbered ticket at the entrance (선택: 외국인등록 for ARC registration). Have all documents ready.

At the counter, a staff member will:

• Check your documents
• Take your biometrics (fingerprints and photo)
• Issue you a receipt for your application

Pay the ₩35,000 fee at the payment counter (현금 cash or 카드 card accepted).

Step 4, Wait for processing

Processing typically takes 2 to 3 weeks. You will receive an SMS when your ARC is ready for pickup, or you can check status online at Hi Korea.

Step 5, Pick up your ARC

Return to the same immigration office with your passport and the receipt they gave you. Your ARC will be issued at the counter.

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What can you do while waiting for your ARC?

During the 2 to 3 week processing window, your passport plus visa covers work and lease-signing, but most name-registered services stay blocked. You cannot open a Korean bank account at most banks, sign a Korean SIM contract, or enroll in NHIS (국민건강보험) until the card is issued. Cash ATM withdrawals, prepaid SIMs, and global debit cards (Wise, Revolut) cover the gap.

A quick reference:

Use a global debit card (Wise, Revolut) for spending while you wait. Most convenience stores, restaurants, and transit accept foreign cards.

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How do you update your ARC for address changes?

If you move after you have your ARC, you must report the address change (체류지 변경신고) at the new community service center (주민센터) within 14 days of the move. This is separate from updating the immigration office, and both must be completed. Failing to report an address change is a violation of Korean immigration law and can affect future visa renewals.

If you move after getting your ARC, you must:

1. Update your address at the local 주민센터 (community service center / dong office), called 체류지 변경신고, within 14 days of moving
2. The address on your ARC will be updated later (or you will get a sticker on the back)

This is separate from updating your address at the immigration office. Both must be done. Failing to update your address is a violation of immigration law.

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How do you renew an ARC in Korea?

Your ARC expiry date matches your visa expiry date. Renew at the immigration office before your current ARC and visa expire, typically starting 4 months before the expiry date. The renewal process is similar to the initial application.

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Useful contacts

• Korea Immigration Service main line: 1345 (English available)
• Hi Korea portal: www.hikorea.go.kr (appointment booking, status checks)
• Seoul Immigration Office address: 서울특별시 양천구 목동동로 151 (Mok-dong, Yangcheon-gu)

What's changed

• 2026-05-26: /en voice retune, applied problem-stakes-pivot opener pattern, fixed ₩30,000 → ₩35,000 fee discrepancy in steps frontmatter, removed section-opener summary duplication, stripped "hit the 90-day mark" idiom and other AI-flavored phrasings, tightened bureaucratic carry-overs ("you have" instead of "Don't wait,"). Canonical /en voice specimen.
• 2026-04-21: Retrofitted for AI-search citability, added direct-answer passages at the top of each section.

@misc{seoulstart-arc-registration-guide,
  author = {{Seoulstart Editorial Team}},
  title = {{ARC Registration Guide: How to Get Your Alien Registration Card in Korea}},
  year = {2026},
  publisher = {Seoulstart},
  url = {https://seoulstart.com/guides/arc-registration-guide},
  note = {Last updated May 26, 2026}
}